Serving on a jury board at the trial of a prostitute accused of murder, Prince Nekhlyudov is appalled to discover that the defendant is a woman he had once seduced and then abandoned when she was only a young servant girl, Katyusha Maslova.
He feels an unbearable burden of guilt when he realises that he directly caused her downfall. Nekhlyudov resolves to fight for her release. If unsuccessful, he is ready to follow Maslova into prison at all costs.
In 'Resurrection' Tolstoy paints a panoramic view of late 19th century Russia and the harshness of life for its lower classes. It ferries the reader from the bleak netherworld of the prison cells to the resplendent chambers of the nobility. Brimming with fervent indignation at the government, the upper classes, the judicial system and the Church.
A perfect fit for readers who love narratives upholding the conviction that it's never too late for human redemption. Recommended for fans of the 2012 film 'Anna Karenina' depicting the eponymous aristocrat's romantic tragedy set against the backdrop of Tsarist Russia. Starring Kiera Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.